If you’re moving homes, or even if you’re just redecorating, you’re bound to have pieces that don’t fit into your new decor. Some things can be donated or sold, but others, especially hand-me-down pieces with a lot of emotional value, should be kept if at all possible.

What you don’t want to do is to just leave these pieces be, sticking out from other decor like a sore thumb and making an entire room feel sloppy or incohesive. If you can fit your decor around these pieces, that’s great! If not, it’s time to consider refreshing them to fit with your current decor.

Staining, reupholstering, and painting family heirlooms may be a daunting task, but at the end of the day all you’re doing is bringing your own personality to a piece of your family history. Chances are, whoever owned it first wouldn’t be upset about the update.

Even if you are reluctant to make that big of a change, if you want to decorate with a piece, you should at least make sure it’s in good condition. That may mean either taking it to a shop to get it repaired or getting down and dirty with some DIY furniture repair for older pieces. When repairing heirlooms, it’s important to use materials that maintain the integrity of the original piece.

If you’re stuck with a piece you have no use for – perhaps you’re reluctant to part with your mother’s wardrobe, for example, but your new home has walk-in closets in every bedroom – don’t worry, you can still use it! Look for ways to repurpose it. Maybe you could create a unique bookshelf, playhouse, or entertainment center out of that wardrobe. It’s better to alter a piece in order to put it to good use, after all, than to hide it away in a backroom or attic to collect dust.

At True Built Home, we understand the importance of tradition, and the importance of using everything to its fullest potential. If you’re looking for a homebuilder in Washington, visit us to see how we can be of help at: http://truebuilthome.com/.

As of July 1, 2016 all Washington State home builders are subject to new energy codes that have resulted in state-wide price increases. In a nutshell, builder receives credits when they use energy saving methods in the home construction process. In the past, the number of credits required for a medium dwelling unit (1501 – 5000 sf.) were 1.5 and could be met in a variety of methods. A hybrid hot water tank could get you 1.5 credits and it still can, but the state has moved the proverbial bar higher and now all builders have to get 3.5 credits for medium dwelling units. How we obtain those credits can be either good or bad for both builders and those desiring to build. How so? It’s imperative that you understand what you are building into your home and that the credits the builder is offering is economical for you, not just the builder. Adding these energy saving items is obviously good for you and the environment in the end. Will you have to purchase additional things for your home to make it comfortable? Let us explain.

Some builders are offering standard ductless units on all their homes to obtain 1.0 credit, and then obtaining the other 2.5 in a variety of means. Ductless units by-the-way were invented as demand for cheap A/C and heat were needed for older homes. It is minimally invasive because it literally is like a wall A/C unit that hung out of the window. They are in demand for retro-homes or remodels. Granted, for homes 1500 square feet and smaller, these units with one head for both heat and cooling may indeed be sufficient. We ourselves take this approach for all of our homes 1500 sf. and smaller. However, on a two story or a large rambler, if you want to get cooling and heat in all areas of the home, more heads are needed. Imagine while ordering your home from other builders and you are told that if you want sufficient cooling and heat in other areas of your 2,500 sf. home, you have to pay an additional $2-3-4k more! Why would the builder offer the home in such a way? Because it’s their least expensive means to obtain the credits needed. This will put the client in an awkward position if you want even heating and cooling in the whole house. How so? Because the builder will offer you an upgrade for extra heads for the ductless unit or offer the option/upgrade that True Built Home does standard-the furnace and heat pump! True Built Home has taken a completely different approach.

Ductless units have their place. However, on larger single-story homes and two-story homes, they make little sense. In this regard, True Built Home offers a high efficient electric furnace and heat pump system standard on all homes 1500 square feet and larger. This gives us 1.0 credit, just like a ductless unit, without the additional expense to the homeowner of adding more heads to sufficiently cool and heat the rest of the home. Let that sink in a bit. Because, when company personnel sit down to discuss these very things, some companies think, “how can we make more money”, while we always take the approach, “how can we add value to our homes”.

In the end, don’t be fooled by some who say that ductless are the “only” way to go. They indeed do have a purpose, but not when you have to pay more for some that could have simply been addressed the right way to begin with.

True Built Home – How we purpose to meet the new Washington Energy Codes

High efficient electric furnace package along with high efficient heat pump system

Low-flow Moen faucets-rated #1 JD Powers

R38 under the floor

LowE .28 windows

Heat pump (hybrid) electric water heater

*Where natural gas can be substituted, an additional up-charge will apply for additional venting and piping.

When deciding to build a home, it is very important that you take steps from the outset to ensure that the process runs smoothly. The last thing you want to do is get halfway through the homebuilding process and then realize that you forgot to check one of these key points.

Many people are under the impression that building a home takes on average a year or more to complete. Unless you’re building the next Graceland, there shouldn’t be any reason to expect an extended construction period. In fact, it’s very likely that you’ll be moving into your new home in as few as three to six months!

That being said, all builders are different, and if you’re on a tight deadline, make sure that you check with your builder beforehand that they will be able to complete your home in time. Even if you’re given an estimate that fits your timeframe, make sure that your builder is aware of your time restraint; it could save you a lot of headaches down the road.

When meeting with a builder for the first time, it’s important to look for signs to make sure they are not more interested in your money than in building your dream home. Lateness, hurriedness, and a lack of interest in your thoughts are all signs that you may not be working with the best builder.

One way to separate the wheat from the chaff is to ask your builder what, if any, problems they foresee in building your home. An honest builder will, most likely, give you a very specific list of things that could go wrong. If your builder brushes the question off, you may need to keep looking for someone better.

Keep in mind, though, that even a good builder may not be the perfect builder for you. Be sure to ask your builder if they have worked with the specific materials that you want to use, especially if you have a unique feature that you’re looking to incorporate into your new home.

At True Built Home, we meet you where you are, and will walk with you through every step of the homebuilding process. If you’re looking to build a home in the state of Washington, visit us to see how we can help at: http://truebuilthome.com/.

Make sure you stop by the Spokane Civic Theater now through June 20th for an unforgettable performance of Guys and Dolls! Ticketing and other information available at: http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com/guys-and-dolls/. If you’re looking to move to Spokane, you’ll want to live somewhere with as much character as the lively city; let us at True Built Home help you to build a home exactly to your liking: http://truebuilthome.com/.

The Emerald of Siam will be hosting Kenny Day, R&B and Soul singer, this Saturday, June 4! Don’t miss out on this performance, get the details here: http://www.visittri-cities.com/events/2016/06/04/kenny-day-rbsoul/. Where else but Washington State can you enjoy the musical talents of Kenny Day alongside of authentic Thai food? Events like this make Washington State the place to be. If you’re looking to build in Washington, visit us to learn how we can make your dream a reality: http://truebuilthome.com/.